SAN FRANCISCO — Frank Gore signed his three-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, keeping the two-time Pro Bowl running back with the team through 2014.

Gore, 28, agreed Tuesday to the $21 million deal, with $13.5 million in guaranteed money. He missed the final five games of 2010 after fracturing his right hip in a Monday night game at Arizona on Nov. 29.

Gore is fully healthy and begins the year third on San Francisco’s all-time rushing list, needing 931 yards to become No. 1.

While Gore has said it is one of his goals to pass the late Hall of Famer Joe Perry as San Francisco’s career leader in yards rushing (7,344), he is determined to first do all he can to help turn the franchise back into a contender under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh.

The 49ers finished 6-10 last season after a surprising 0-5 start, failing to reach the playoffs or post a winning record for the eighth straight year.

Ochocinco slowly starting to jell with Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Chad Ochocinco wants to get that look from Tom Brady, that quick glance down the line of scrimmage from quarterback to receiver that sends silent instructions.

It’s a look that comes with experience together, with Brady’s confidence that Ochocinco will figure out - and follow those instructions.

“That look,” said Ochocinco, a Patriot for just five weeks, “that look, man, is special and I’ve seen him do it a couple of times before I was even here. You know, that’s a deadly combination. It’s a great weapon to have to not give the defense any hint of what’s going on.”

That connection takes time to develop. The most important work is done in practice.

So Brady and Ochocinco may not get to use it, if they play at all, in New England’s final exhibition game Thursday night against the New York Giants. But Ochocinco isn’t frustrated that he’s caught just two passes during the preseason. “Frustration’s a waste of time,” he said. “It’s a waste of energy.”

c While most of Foxborough remains without power from Tropical Storm Irene, service is back at Gillette Stadium where the Patriots’ final exhibition game is scheduled for Thursday night. A power company spokeswoman said Tuesday that it was “absolutely not” true that the team received special treatment. As of late Tuesday afternoon, 7,287 of 7,820 customers in Foxborough still had no power.

Rams’ Laurinaitis says he’ll be good to go for opener

ST. LOUIS — Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis wants to play in the St. Louis’ Rams’ last preseason game, saying his chest injury is no big deal.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo wasn’t sure, weighing the value of giving the team’s leading tackler the past two seasons one final brush-up time against the risk of aggravating the injury.

Even if he sits Thursday night at Jacksonville, Laurinaitis said there’s no doubt he’ll be ready for the opener Sept. 11 against Philadelphia.

Around the league

• BENGALS: Cincinnati running back Cedric Benson began serving a 20-day jail term in Texas to settle two misdemeanor assault cases…. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2015 season.

• GIANTS: New York quarterback Eli Manning sees his dismal preseason statistics and isn’t concerned. He has not had success playing behind a revamped offensive line, and without departed wide receiver Steve Smith and tight end Kevin Boss. He has completed just more than 49 percent of his passes, has not thrown a touchdown and tossed two interceptions.